Houston, August 27, 2010 — Great Plains Energy's 850-MW Unit 2 at the Iatan power plant in Missouri is entering its testing phase before entering commercial operation.
The coal-fired unit has produced 350,000 MWh of electricity since beginning testing in July 2010. The in-service testing is required under pending utility rate cases and is subject to verification by state regulators in Kansas and Missouri.
Great Plains Energy said the new coal unit is working through the final stages of commercial acceptance with project vendors, steps needed before the plant can be dispatched to the grid.
Iatan Unit 2's estimated cost jumped to as much as $2.19 billion, up from about $2.02 billion, due to the delay and additional contingency costs.
Kansas City Power & Light, a unit of Great Plains Energy, owns 55 percent of the new coal unit and serves as construction manager and plant operator.
